Shortly after I posted yesterdays blog the captain announced via the ships public
address system that the search for the missing crew member was unsuccessful and has been stopped
due to the fog and the henceforth very bad visibility. A sad occurrence of this trip.
From todays nautical information made available to passengers in the “Daily Programme”:
"After completing our great circle track QM 2 will initially set a westerly course, passing to
the north of the final resting place of the infamous White Star liner Titanic, which lies
in position 41(o) 43’ North 049(o) 56’ West, before altering to the North West towards
Sable Island. Our track will take app. 26 nautical miles north of the crescent shaped island
as we set course towards the Halifax pilot station"
This schedule is due to the search for the crew member delayed by abut 6-8 hours and in
todays noon nautical information announcement the captain mentioned that instead of reaching
Halifax tomorrow morning at around 5:30 local time it will nowbe around noon. The delay is also
impacted by very strong headwinds despite the fact that the QM 2 is steaming ahead at almost
max speed of 23 knots.
Live on board is impacted by the outside weather as well. Till the very early hours of this
afternoon thick fog impacted visibility and the strong winds made a leisurely stroll on the promenade
deck a challenge.
Fortunately they have a fantastic daily programme which had the following for me in store:
- a Line Dance Class
- a keynote “Piracy and Terror in the 21st century” by Douglas R.Burgess
- Cinema: “Hot Pursuit” with Reese Witherspoon.
Also the culinary events are worth mentioning: Sea Food Dinner tonight. Lobster, shrimps, mussels etc.etc.
I enjoyed a large glass of Pinot Grigio with this feast.
Again we have to switch the clocks back tonight. Should now be GMT - 3.
A little side note: whilst internet connectivity is possible it is not like at home.The signal goes from the ship
to a satellite 22’000 miles above the earth. The data then bounces down to an earth routing station where
once request goes into the world. The response takes the same 22’000 mile route back. This means that the
online minutes one has to buy are been used rather quickly by just getting and answering emails.
Please keep this in mind should you have send me emails since I left Southampton. I will reply as soon as I
reached the mainland.
Hence I have only updated this blog and the journey map.
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